The Alabama State baseball team returns to Southwestern Athletic Conference play in a three-game series beginning Friday at Mississippi Valley State.

Game times are 3 p.m. Friday, and 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday on the MVSU campus as the teams meet for the second time. Alabama State swept the three-game series at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex March 18-19.

The Hornets (23-14 overall, 15-0 SWAC) are off the their best start in conference play in school history and can wrap up their third consecutive Eastern Division title with two wins this weekend.

Alabama State has been impressive in all facets of play against conference foes. Offensively, the Hornets are hitting .328 as a team, averaging nearly 11 runs per game and have hit 24 home runs. Ray Hernandez (six) and Carlos Ocasio (five) have combined for 11 home runs and 47 RBI.

The pitching staff has been stellar, with a 1.39 team ERA, as opponents are batting just .196 with one home run. Joseph Camacho, Tyler Howe, and Hunter McIntosh have combined to yield only 13 earned runs and 11 extra base hits while striking out 107 batters to only 28 walks.

The Delta Devils (6-27, 4-14) split a four-game series against Alabama A&M last weekend to stay in the hunt for a SWAC Tournament berth.